A UAE minister yesterday called for giving more attention to capstone projects given their importance in solving problems and upgrading thinking skills.
"Capstone projects are, in fact, an embodiment of a learner-centred educational philosophy that focuses on the application of thinking skills and problem solving," said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University (ZU), at the university's annual Capstone Festival.
As a prerequisite for a ZU student's graduation, each one must successfully complete a complex project in her chosen field. The festival held yesterday at the Abu Dhabi campus was an exhibition of students' work and a celebration of their learning and completion of their baccalaureate degree.
Sheikh Nahyan said: "The capstone projects support high academic standards at the ZU. They enhance the educational experience of students. They help develop their ability to think independently and critically, to define problems and set out to address them productively.
"Capstone projects are meant to enable our students to reflect on their learning experiences and to demonstrate that they have achieved the goals of education at the university."
Out of 103 capstone projects, the top six were presented by the students. Some of them included a student-managed business by the College of Communications and Media Sciences that produces greeting cards, designs websites, and video post cards for members of the ZU community.
The has company managed to earn a profit of more than Dh8,000 during the past two years. Also, the College of Arts and Sciences has redesigned the logo of 'Mango', a women's clothing company, to a more appealing and colourful design.
Dr Hanif Hassan, Vice President of Zayed University, said: "This is the second capstone festival held at the university where students present their projects. This experience proves that they are ready and capable to implement the skills they have acquired at the university."
He said 85 per cent of the ZU graduates have been employed either in the private or public sector while students have received job offers and some have managed to secure jobs.
Gulf News
